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I have served in the Fairfax County government for over 33 years. I can confidently say that last Saturday was the best day I have had in those 33 years.
On Saturday, hundreds of residents and local employers celebrated not only the grand opening of the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub (W.I.S.H.) but also the possibilities that the WISH will unlock for our community. If you are unemployed, underemployed, or ready to break into a new career that pays at least $20 an hour, then come visit us at the WISH! We are actively working to establish partnerships with employers in our region who are looking to fill vacancies, and to engage residents and students through programming that will open their minds to the in-demand careers of the future.
If any of this describes you, then we want to hear from you!
Thank you to Melwood, Building Momentum, and all the County staff and partners who made this day possible. This is only the beginning!
The grand opening made the front page of the Mt. Vernon Gazette!
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Here is the link to the full article:
The W.I.S.H. Center Opens in Hybla Valley Job training to thrive at a living wage.
By Mercia Hobson, The Connection
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2022/oct/13/wish-center-opens-hybla-valley/
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Also, it's your last chance to register for tomorrow's STEAM Fest! I'm excited to welcome George Mason University President Dr. Gregory Washington and STEM NOLA to the W.I.S.H.
Register for the FREE event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/steam-fest-tickets-419897594007.
Register to volunteer (Training will be provided): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WXP8MJ3
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Please contact my office if we can assist you. | |
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Email: leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov (My team is working on an updated email)
Phone 703-971-6262
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- Supervisor Lusk in the Community
- Supervisor Lusk in the News
- Start and Grow your Business with the Fairfax County Business Experience Team
- Community Post: Senior Planet Classes at the Fairfax Wellness Center for Older Adults
- Warning Signs of Hypothermia
- Employee Learning Week
- Trunk or Treat Drive
- All About Trees: Fall Foilage, Planting, and More
- Help in Park Development and Recreation
- Make a Plan during Blue and Yellow Line Construction Period
- COVID-19 Resources
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Supervisor Lusk in the Community | |
Some of my favorite photos from the W.I.S.H. grand opening. | |
Supervisor Lusk in the News | |
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Richmond Highway’s first parklet and Della J’s restaurant arrive at Mount Vernon Plaza
By Matt Biltz of FFX Now
https://www.ffxnow.com/2022/10/13/richmond-highways-first-parklet-and-della-js-restaurant-arrive-at-mount-vernon-plaza/
"The collaboration with Federal Realty could be a model for public-private partnerships at other developments along the corridor, he said. In fact, SFDC is already in talks with other Richmond Highway shopping centers about creating their own parklets.
Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, who is expected to be at the ribbon-cutting, also believes the parklet is a crucial amenity.
“The parklet will be a valuable amenity that will stimulate local growth, and attract visitors from across our region,” Lusk said in the press release. “Federal Realty’s investment is a clear commitment to making the Richmond Highway Area a destination defined by mixed-use and transit-oriented development."
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Training Center Connects Under-employed, Under-skilled Residents with Training, Jobs
By Collin Cope of Fairfax County Times
https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fairfax_county/training-center-connects-under-employed-under-skilled-residents-with-training-jobs/article_7aa46932-4b10-11ed-a4ba-f355065c9df1.html
"As helping residents in need is a top priority for representatives in the region, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk (D) introduced this initiative in 2020 and feels the program is a step in the right direction toward reducing income inequality. In addition, residents who participate will benefit from the various career opportunities offered through federal contracts which are available near the Route 1 corridor."
“The data is clear, residents who live along the Richmond Highway corridor, Springfield, and other communities in southeast Fairfax, have been increasingly left behind. As other parts of our county continue to grow and develop, especially in terms of employment opportunities, communities on Richmond Highway and the surrounding area have been largely limited to retail and service-based sectors,” said Lusk. “Residents will have the opportunity to transition from low-paying jobs into high-paying careers that will move their families into the middle class.”
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Tech Fest For K-12 Students Coming To Hybla Valley Community Center
By Mark Hand of The Patch
https://patch.com/virginia/greateralexandria/tech-fest-k-12-students-coming-hybla-valley-community-center
“Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney Lusk, together with George Mason University President Gregory Washington and the Workforce Innovation and Skills Hub, is hosting a free STEAM Fest for K-12 students on Saturday at the Hybla Valley Community Center..”
"Nearly 360 students have registered for the event so far, and more than 60 volunteers will be on site. The STEAM Fest is one of the many upcoming events for southeast Fairfax County residents, including young people, to gain expertise in emerging technology and employment opportunities."
“Providing the next generation of the workforce access to emerging technologies is critical in building their interest towards high-paying tech or science-related careers,” Lusk, Franconia District supervisor, said in a statement.
“The S.T.E.A.M Fest is an opportunity to expose our local youth to technologies that are typically out of reach for those located in the Richmond Highway corridor, Springfield, and other communities in Southeast Fairfax,” Lusk said.
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At This Alexandria Community, The Challenges Of Mobile Home Ownership Are Thrown Into Sharp Relief
By Eliza Tebo of DCist
https://dcist.com/story/22/10/12/harmony-place-mobile-home-affordable-housing/
“Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney Lusk (D-Franconia District), who worked with Harmony Place residents as they prepared their proposal with Catholics for Housing, says the issue with corporate investment is that those entities are usually “focused on one thing — and that is extracting additional value.”
Nonprofit ownership of parks could help keep rent down, Lusk says, because “they’re less likely to be motivated by profits” and more motivated to improve living conditions for residents.
“We have to figure out a way to encourage some level of home ownership for these individuals. And the question is, ‘How do you do that?,’” Lusk says. “The first step would be trying to figure out how you get a not-for-profit to come in and reposition the asset and then to think about how then could that not-for-profit help the residents become the owners of their own units and their own land.” One way the county has been trying to accomplish the latter, Lusk says, is running a new job-training program located near the park that can help lift incomes."
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Start and Grow your Business with the Fairfax County Business Experience Team | |
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Are you interested in starting a business and expanding it? Fairfax county provides free consultations with their Business Experience Team to help your business idea reach its full potential! To keep your business up to date with county requirements, we’ve plugged in resources that can help you say aligned with the county’s ordinances.
More information: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/topics/starting-business
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Community Post: Senior Planet classes at the Fairfax Wellness Center for Older Adults | |
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AARP Virginia and Senior Planet from AARP are very excited to bring these classes to Fairfax County and we hope that older adults will take advantage.
Senior Planet from AARP with the Wellness Center for Older Adults presents:
Understanding Streaming & Smart TVs
Tuesday, October 18th | 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
This free class will introduce you to streaming: what it is, how to use it, and
the variety of content available. You’ll also learn how to watch live TV
without cable and how smart TVs and streaming devices can let you watch
videos from the internet on your television.
RSVP: events.aarp.org/SPstreaming or call 1-877-926-8300
Getting Started with Facebook
Tuesday, October 25th | 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
During this free hands-on workshop, you will sign up for Facebook and begin
building your profile. You’ll also learn how to find friends and use Facebook’s
privacy settings.
RSVP: events.aarp.org/SPfacebook or call 1-877-926-8300
Location: Wellness Center for Older Adults (WCOA)
4027B Olley Lane, Fairfax, VA 22032
This Senior Planet by AARP class is hosted by the Wellness Center for Older Adults (WCOA) in Fairfax and is free and open to all. AARP membership is not required but we do request that you RSVP as space is limited. No products or services will be promoted or marketed.
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Warning Signs of Hypothermia | |
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Since 2005, the Fairfax County Hypothermia Prevention Program has prevented death and serious injuries among people experiencing homelessness by ensuring that no one must sleep outside during the winter months.
This program - available to any adult in need of immediate shelter - provides warm shelter, food, and other supportive services to help connect guests to a variety of basic needs such as clothing, employment, housing, and more.
It remains a highly effective partnership between government, nonprofits, and the faith community. The program will open every day, countywide on December 1, 2022, and ends the morning of April 1, 2023.
Overflow shelter capacity in the year-round adult shelters will be available each night starting November 15, 2022. Before that date and after April 1, the shelters activate overflow capacity during extreme weather events and unseasonably high or low temperatures. Overflow shelter capacity is limited.
Contact abigail.dunner@fairfaxcounty.gov if you have any questions!
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Next Friday, October 14, Fairfax County is hosting a Fall Harvest Festival at the Kingstowne Farmers Market from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. There will be live music, hot cider, children's pumpkin painting, and a trivia wheel with prizes! | |
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Decorate your car for the Trunk or Treat Drive!
The details for the Mount Vernon event are as follows:
- Date: October 26, 2022
- Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
- Location: Hybla Valley Community Center
7950 Audubon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22306
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Registration for Trunks: email katie.watts@fairfaxcounty.gov
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Set up/Trunk Decoration Time: Starting at 5:00 PM on October 12th.
- Miscellaneous: Please bring candy/items to hand out to the trick or treaters.
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All About Trees: Fall Foliage, Planting and More | |
Help in Park and Recreation Development | |
Major Blue and Yellow Line Construction | |
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Metro is extending the closure of six stations south of Reagan National Airport due to unexpected site conditions and remediation efforts for the future Potomac Yard Station. The announcement today comes three weeks before stations were scheduled to reopen to give our customers time to plan their trips accordingly.
Work to tie-in new tracks to the station, which was slated to conclude on Saturday, Oct. 22, will now end on Saturday, Nov. 5. Free shuttle bus service will continue to be available to customers through the extension following the same pattern that our customers are using today. The Metroway - Potomac Yard line will continue to be free, and parking fees at Franconia-Springfield, Huntington, and Van Dorn St stations will continue to be waived.
More Details: https://wmata.com/initiatives/plans/Major-Blue-and-Yellow-Line-Construction/index.cfm
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Fairfax County COVID-19 Resources | |
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Rodney L. Lusk
Franconia District Supervisor
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